GC 3 Guidance

By: Sohaib Rasool

Marking Criteria

1 Completion of observation sheets

1.1 Range and outline of hazards and consequences 15

1.2 Identification of suitable control measures and timescales 15

2 Report - Introduction and Executive Summary

2.1 Introduction providing an overview of the chosen area 5

2.2 Executive summary 5

3 Report - Main findings of the inspection

3.1 Quality of interpretation of findings 15

3.2 Identification of possible breaches of legislation and/or

standards 5

3.3 Persuasiveness / conciseness / technical content 10

4 Report - Conclusions and Recommendations

4.1

Clear and concise conclusions which are clearly related to

report findings and are effective in convincing

management to take action

15

4.2 Recommendations which present realistic actions to

improve health and safety in the chosen area 15

TOTAL MARKS 100

Outlining of Hazards and Consequence

Outline 20 uncontrolled hazards.

Recommended to highlight more than 20

uncontrolled hazards but not more than 30.

Outline different type of hazards like Fire,

Work at height, ergonomics, health, noise,

transport, electricity, vibration, machine and

welfare etc.

Mention at least one to three good practices.

Common Mistakes

Candidate repeat the hazards, considered as one.

Policies and procedure should not be included as part

of hazard identification.

Must demonstrate how hazard can potentially harm

the person e.g. consequences.

Avoid long sentences and explanation, keep it

concise.

Diversity of hazard's identified always attains more

marks

Hazard:

Consequence:

Another Example

Hazards that can be covered

Issues description 1. Electricity

2. Ergonomics

3. Falling objects

4. Fire

5. First Aid

6. Good practice

7. Hazardous substances

8. Housekeeping

9. Information

10. Machinery (mechanical /

non mechanical)

11. Manual handling

12. Noise

13. Obstructions / trailing

cables

14. Personal Protective

Equipment

15. Vehicles / routes

16. Vibration

17. Welfare / hygiene

18. Work at height

19. Work environment

20. Chemical Hazard

21. Biological Hazard

22. Stress

23. Psychological

24. Health Hazards

Control Measure & Timeline

Immediate measures to control the risk on spot.

Medium term measures to further control or reduce the risk (not

required by NEBOSH, we recommend it)

Long term measures to sustain the control of risk , identifying

the root cause.

If you find control measure are adequate, any other measure to

maintain level control (generally for good practice)

Immediate= 0 hour to 1day

Medium= 1day to 7 days

Long term= 1 day to 6 months but 3

months recommended generally

Other Examples

Inhalation of high amount of

Calcium hydroxide in the

production of hydrate lime area

can cause respiratory burns

I-Cover the drums containing the

calcium hydroxide.

M-Respiratory protective equipment, if

using calcium hydroxide for long time.

M- Restrict entry to authorise

individuals only in the area

L-Frequent rest breaks and job

rotation can reduce the exposure.

L-Training of the employees &

awareness about hazardous

substances.

L- Monitoring of substance at work

L- Health surveillance for workers to

be conducted

15 minutes.

1 day.

3 days

After 2 hours

of work

1 Week

2 Weeks

3 months

Example Continue

Location- Cooling Water

area

Hazard- Presence of

Legionella bacteria due

to improper cleaning of

cooling towers and

uncovered drinking water

Consequence- It may lead

to pneumonia, flu, fever

and or fatal to workers

using, handling and

maintaining cooling tower

water.

I-Water treatment to prevent

risk of bacteria

(Chlorination).

M-Proper cleaning of cooling

towers.

L-Fixed guard or provide

cover the cooling towers and

drinking water storage

L-water treatment chemicals

should be used to kill

bacteria

L- Water sampling and

testing through laboratory to

identify the issue if any

proactively

L-Training & awareness of

workers about risks of

legionella bacterial and its

control measures

L- Health surveillance to be

carried for workers of the

area

02 Hrs.

1 Day.

15 Days.

Fortnightly

Monthly

1 week

3 months

Common Mistakes in Control Measures

Hazard not clearly identified – No Marks on

Control measure.

Another Example

Example of Timeline in Control Measures

What’s wrong here?

Introduction

Introduction (should be in one page)

Purpose of visit & company overview(one

paragraph)

State where and when inspection took place. Areas

and purpose of inspection(one paragraph)

Description of chosen area, i.e. Hotel, Retail store,

Construction site etc. Activities of company and

volume of work area(one paragraph)

People working there, e.g. gender, number of

people working, age group, vulnerable persons.

Equipment in use at worksite, departments over

there, work pattern, shift types, (one paragraph)

Example of Introduction of Report

Introduction including overview of area inspected and activities taking place

This inspection took place at the Newco Retail Park in Newtown at approximately

11:20am on 31/05/2013. This site is a retail park comprising 6 steel framed brick

and glass clad units with flat roofs, a large car park with approximately 200 parking

spaces to the front of the property and a service yard to the rear both of which are

accessed via a short service road to the main road junction. This inspection covers

only the external areas for which my company is responsible; the internal areas are

the responsibility of the tenants. There are two full time security staff employed by

us permanently on site, working a day and night shift respectively. All other

employees on site are the responsibility of the tenants (approximately 30 people),

along with constant visitors (approximately 500-1000 per day). The main activities

taking place in the areas our areas of responsibility are movement of customers and

customer vehicles through the car park, movement of delivery vehicles (from small

vans to articulated lorries) through the site and in the service yard, unloading of

deliveries by hand and using forklift trucks, and storage / removal of packing

materials

Executive Summary

Should attract the reader (normally for a busy

manager)

Concise overview of the important points of the

report.

Summarises important points from main hazards,

main findings, conclusion and recommendations.

Usually written as a last thing or at the end of

report.

Example of Executive Summary

Executive Summary

The management of health and safety at Newco Retail Park is

generally of a fair standard. However, inspection of the site

identified a number of significant failings which if not addressed

could result in serious injury or death to our or our tenants' staff

members or any visitors to the site. Along with the immediate risk to

life, breaches were noted in Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974,

the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, the

Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire

Safety) Order 2005, Any one of these breaches could lead to

enforcement action against the company and the potential closure of

the site, along with criminal prosecution with the risk of significant

fines and potential imprisonment.

Major/Main Findings

15 marks are based on quality of interpretation.

5 to 7 hazards or main findings.

Logical progression from observation sheet.

Should not duplicate observation in the main

findings.

Should not include additional hazard those not

outlined in observation sheet.

Should summarize main points on a particular

hazard and possible control with logical cost.

Mostly repeated hazards or serious hazard to start

with first.

Major/Main Findings

Breaches and violation with legal acts and International

Standards.

Reference could be made to ILO Conventions mentioning

their article or sub clause e.g. C155 article 16 requires

employer to etc….

Reference could be made to Acts and regulations for

highlighting legal Breaches (e.g. Factories Act 1934 as

amended 1997 chapter 3; clause 25…..)

Reference could be made to ISO/OHSAS Standards in

addition.

Reference could be made to any International law e.g.

HASAWA 1974 section 2 requires etc….

Major/Main Findings

Persuasiveness/Conciseness/Technical Content

Explain Why Management Need to take Action

What are moral, legal, financial reason to take

remedial actions.

Include convincing arguments for action proposed

Can mention cost relevant to specific observation

in the sheet.

Example of Main Findings

1. Movement of vehicles through the site (observation# 01, 04, 08):

Due to the nature of the site and the activities carried out here there is a constant

flow of vehicles through this site, both visitor and business related. However, this

vehicle movement is not adequately controlled. There are no marked pedestrian

walkways to aid segregation of persons from vehicles; speed restriction signage is in

place but has been vandalized, restricting its effectiveness; there are limited

controls in place to protect pedestrians from moving forklift trucks, however these

controls are in the form of PPE to be worn by the pedestrian putting the onus on the

wearer for their own safety rather than by fitting physical control measures to the

forklifts themselves.

Should an impact between vehicle and pedestrian occur there is a high likelihood of

serious injury or even death. Along with this risk there is the a breach of regulation

17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, as the

workplace has not been organized in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can

circulate in a safe manner, and of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in

that a safe place of work with adequate access and egress has not been maintained,

Conclusion & Recommendations

Conclusion & recommendation are of 15 marks

Conclusion (mean result of your inspection)

Concise Summary of the findings

Effective convincing of the management to take

action (referring to moral, legal & financial

argument)

Summary of points from main body, findings etc. to

convince management to take action.

Example of the Conclusion from a Report

Although this site may seem on the surface to be relatively low risk, a number of

significant hazards and serious breaches of health and safety law were identified.

These issues could potentially lead to the death or serious injury of persons on site,

costly prosecutions or potential fines. However, the costs, both monetary and

resource based, involved in putting in place suitable control measures are relatively

low in comparison. The easier issues to rectify result from poor discipline on behalf

of the site tenants leading to incorrect storage of hazardous substances and

flammable materials; this could be addressed through regular meetings with

tenants and their employees to remind them of their obligations to keep the site

tidy with appropriate storage More difficult and resource-heavy are the issues

relating to pedestrian I traffic segregation; however, the time and money involved

in installing protected walkways and traffic management measures are far less

costly than the resources involved in defending prosecutions, payout of fines,

increased insurance premiums etc.

Recommendation

Recommendation based upon Conclusion

Use table format suggested in the report.

Prioritize recommendation.

Most important issue presenting high level and that

can be done immediately and with less and no cost

should be done 1st.

Timeline should be defined Week, months etc.

Cost should be estimated in Rupee, GBP or USD

(generally in USD or GBP)

Example of recommendation Part

Recommendation

Likely resource implications

Priority

Target date

Design and implement traffic

management system - painted /

barriered pedestrian

segregation in car park and

service yard, directional

signage / one way system,

speed restriction measures /

signage / speed bumps

Night closure of car park / service yard -

potential loss of trade / inability to

receive deliveries

Cost of employing contractor to mark out

pedestrian paths / fit barriers - approx.

£10,000

1

3-6 month

Fit audible / visible warnings

to forklifts

Rental of replacement truck while work

is carried out - approx. £500

Cost of retrofit to forklift - approx. £500

2

1

month

Remove obstructions from fire

exits / evacuation routes

Time required to remove only.

3

24

hours

Remove hazardous substances

stored in service yard and

dispose of responsibly

Cost of employing contractor to remove

substances - approx. £300

4

1 week

Fit suitable storage cage with

chains away from building for

compressed gas cylinders

Cost of employing contractor to fit cage -

approx. £1000

5

3

months

Arrange regular meetings

with tenants to remind them

of responsibilities re: storage

of materials and substances

Time required to undertake meetings

only.

6

1

month, then

ongoig

Got 9 out 15 Marks

Reasons:

Target Dates not

clear 3-6 Months

/Long

Range

Short term measure

not addressed at all

How could this have

been better ?

Clear Target dates

like 3months

Address Short term

measures too.

Priorities as per

main findings.

Can add short

justification for action.

Marking Guide For Observation Sheet

Marks to be awarded

11 - 15

6 – 10

1 - 5

1

Completion of

observation

sheets

1.1

Range and outline

of hazards and

consequences

4-5 different types of

hazards outlined

14-20 uncontrolled

hazards /

consequences

outlined

2-3 different types of

hazards outlined

7-13 uncontrolled

hazards /

consequences

outlined

1 type of hazard

outlined

1-6 uncontrolled

hazards /

consequences outlined

11 - 15

6 - 10

1 - 5

1.2

Identification of

suitable control

measures and

timescales

Immediate and

longer- term actions

identified for majority

of hazards

Majority of

recommended actions

effective in reducing

risk and realistic in

terms of timescales

Identification of

immediate and longer

term actions for some

of the identified

hazards

Some recommended

actions generally

effective in reducing

risk and realistic in

terms of timescales

Reference to

immediate actions

only

Recommended actions

limited in reducing risk

and unrealistic in

terms of timescales

Management Report –Main findings of the inspection

Marks to be awarded

11-15 6-10 1-5

3 Management Report –

Main findings of the inspection

3.1

Quality of

interpretation of findings

Logical

progression from the observation sheets does not duplicate

observation sheets

Majority of

key issues

identified in observation sheets have been appropriately selected and discussed

Logical

progression from the observation sheets but some duplication of

observation sheets

Some key

issues

identified in observation sheets have been appropriately

selected and discussed

Limited progression

from the observation

sheets and

duplication of

observation sheets Minority of the key

issues identified in the observation sheets have been appropriately selected and

discussed

Identification of possible breaches of

legislation and/or international standards

5 4

3

2

1

3.2 Identification

of possible

breaches of

legislation

and/or

international

standards

Appropriate

references to

5 possible

breaches of

international

standards with

a clear

understanding

of the reasons

for the

breaches

Appropriate

references to

4 possible

breaches of

international

standards with

a clear

understanding

of the reasons

for the

breaches

Appropriate

references to 3

possible

breaches of

international

standards with a

clear

understanding

of the reasons

for the breaches

Appropriate

references to 2

possible

breaches of

international

standards with

a clear

understanding

of the reasons

for the

breaches

A list of

international

standards

with no

explanation

of how the

international

standards

were

breached, or

how they

relate to the

hazards,

unsafe

conditions or

work

practices

selected

Management Report-Main findings of

inspection

Marks to be awarded

8-10

4-7

1-3

3

Manage

ment

Report-

Main

findings of

the

inspection

3.3

Persuasiven

ess/

conciseness

/ technical

content

Clear legal,

moral and

financial

arguments

Convinces

manageme

nt to take

action

Report is

well

structured

and

appropriate

length

Some legal,

moral and

financial

arguments

Some

persuasion in

management

action

Report is

reasonably

well

structured

Limited

legal, moral

and

financial

arguments

Limited

persuasiven

ess in

management

action

Report is

poorly

structured

Management Report – Conclusions and Recommendations

Marks to be awarded

11 -

15

6 -

10

1 -5

4

Manageme

nt Report

–

Conclusions

and

Recommendati

ons

4.1

Clear and concise

conclusions which

are clearly related

to report findings

and are effective in

convincing

management to take

actions

Findings identified in

report summarised

clearly and concisely

Relevant and

appropriate information

provided to persuade

management to take

actions

Logical progression from

the report

Some key issues

identified in report have

been appropriately

discussed

Limited progression

from the report

Limited discussion of

the key issues identified

in the report

11 -

15

6 10 1 –5

4.2

Recommendations

which present

realistic actions to

improve health and

safety in the chosen

area

Recommendations

based upon conclusions

Realistic

recommendations and

target dates

Appropriately

prioritized

recommendations

Appropriate resource

implications for all

recommendations

Most recommendations

follow on from the

conclusions

Most recommendations

are realistic

Some attempt at

prioritization

Appropriate resource

implications for most

recommendations

Limited progression

from conclusions

Recommendations not

all realistic

No prioritization

Limited resource

implications